accretive

American  

[uh-kree-tiv] / əˈkri tɪv /

Also accretionary

adjective

1. increasing by natural growth or gradual addition.

   Not only in manufacturing, but also in other sectors, there is an accretive demand for plastics.

2. growing together from separate or disparate parts into a single whole.

   By making room for reports of single experiments and minor technical advances, journals have made the chaos of science accretive.

3. contributing to the growth or increase of something, especially profit.

   Increased penetration of overseas markets will be accretive to the company’s earnings.

   Effective presentation of data is greatly accretive to helping understand trends and insights.

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Other Word Forms

• nonaccretive adjective

Etymology

Origin of accretive

First recorded in 1655–65; from Late Latin accretivus, equivalent to Latin accrēt(us) “grown” + -īvus -ive ( def. ), see accretion ( def. )

Example Sentences

“Not only does it indicate Intel was in a financial position to buy back this stake, it is also accretive to earnings which should cause upward revisions to estimates,” he said in emailed comments.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

Its Asia-Pacific revenue therefore isn’t likely to be materially accretive in the near term, with earnings uplift likely to be progressive, she says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Salesforce now has “a much better understanding of how to do acquisitions that are accretive to the business but not dilutive to investors,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 11, 2026

If the company uses its cash for accretive acquisitions or share buybacks, those could be rerating catalysts, she says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

This is but a small portion of the fable as amplified by Rabelais; but what is cited illustrates the accretive power of a jest when it involves a principle of general application.

From The Continental Monthly, Vol. 3 No 2, February 1863 Devoted To Literature And National Policy by Various